Tuesday, November 27, 2007

What a near-disaster! My advice to those out there getting holiday pictures taken: beware your photographer!

Here's the story--

I took Erica down to Delaware to visit my brother, his wife, and their two kids. We were going to go to Picture People to have the kids' pictures taken. I've been to several different picture people stores before and have always had a great experience. There's always been good pictures to choose from.

Well, I was singing the praises of Picture People to my bro and SIL... and when we showed up, our photographer was AWFUL! I don't know what her problem was, but she did a horrid job. She just sat there the whole time, not doing anything to get them to smile or laugh. And I could tell that she was getting madder and madder by them with each passing minute.

The kids just wouldn't take a good picture. They kept moving around, talking too much, goofing off. And I was so appalled. I mean, Erica loves getting her picture taken. She's always done a great job before!

I ended up being the one to try all types of tricks to get them to behave and smile. I gave them stickers to put in their hands to "play peek-a-boo." [That way, their hands would be together, not all over the place.] I got the duster thing to tickle them before the picture was shot. But still, nothing worked out well.

We decided to take a lunch break and come back afterwards. We hoped and hoped to have a different photographer. Thankfully, we did. It went SO WELL! It was fantastic! The guy was so funny, did anything to get them to smile and engage in the pictures.

Thankfully, we got some great shots to pick from.

[This picture was from the "bad photographer" set. But I must say, I do find it hilariously funny!]

7 comments:

That is a really cute picture. I know what you mean about bad photographers's with kids. We just had our pictures taken and that was not easy. Our photographer was great, but she had to work REALLY hard. I was even starting to get irritated after an hour, but she just kept us happy the whole time. We got some great shots. Have a great day!

That's weird because Picture People usually has such excellent photographers. That's disappointing to me! I hope you called Picture People and complained (as in, the toll free number... the HQ, if you will).

I agree with everyone else. The first picture with the nativity set. Reagan's got his out full force too. But I must say, I'm sick of hearing "Away in the Manger" already! How about you? :)

corinne- Its nice when you get a good photographer. Glad yours was so persistant.

abby- you ARE lazy!

burgh baby's mom- I normally just go there with my free coupons. Every three months they mail out "free 8x10" coupon, and I'm all for it! I also have the membership for those times when there are two or more that turned out to be especially cute

latoya- thanks for stopping by! I remember you came over here a bit ago. I'll drop by your blog again :-)

clairissa- the "boss" did find out. Actually, the guy who took our pictures the second time was the boss; so he also did get to see that it WASN'T our kids that were so awful. It only took a little bit of effort to get them smiling and cooperating.

Good! Cuz I'd hate for a bad photographer like her to defame the good name of Picture People. :)

We go to Picture People Tuesday morning for Reagan's Christmas picture in his cute "old man sweater" (a striped number with deer on it... you know what I mean? sweaters with the dear with antlers... it's a common pattern.. anyway...).

Becky L... My Life in Fast-Forward: lived in whitehall PA up to 5th grade. Moved to Boyertown PA till graduating. Went to college in Columbia SC and then Lancaster PA. Married June 2003. Baby born in March 2005. So... I'm a new mommy trying to learn the ropes.

My blog is wonderful. "Adventures of Mommyhood" will make you laugh, cry, and feel moved. Or something.
I tell it like it is. Most times, I share funny annicdotal stories of my daughter, Erica. I'll post precious pictures of her as well. Other times, I go into odd, strange, silly aspects of mommyhood, such as "What does baby food taste like?" Other times, I completely step aside from the realm of mommyhood and just talk about random things.
Commercials, for example. Or the man around town. Or songs and poems that I like. Or trips to dentists. or... on and on and on.
Continue, and check it out! I'm sure you'll love it!!!